ANALYZING THE PROGRESS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 6 IN RELATION TO WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION FACILITIES

Sustainable development goal 6 is the goal that focuses to clean water and sanitation. Targets 6.1 and 6.2 say that everyone should have access to safe and affordable water and access to basic sanitation respectively. Malawi adopted this goal and it is on the verge of achieving it. Even though Malawi records to be a country with access to safe and affordable water and basic sanitation, some parts of Malawi still lag behind. This study aimed at analysing the progress of SDG 6 in Mthandizi ward, a peri-urban area in Blantyre. The study was quantitative in nature, a survey was conducted using a questionnaire to collect data in households. 37 households were interviewed. The results revealed that Mthandizi ward still lags behind in both access to water and sanitation. The people in Mthandizi ward relied on water kiosks in which water was not always available. Ntopwa had a highest percentage of people having their water sources not premises, when it came to treating water at home, 62.2% of the targeted population did not treat their water which was the majority of the targeted population, the remaining 37.8% used household water treatment techniques such as boiling, sieving and using water guard. The study revealed that 67.57% of the targeted population in Mthandizi ward used dry pit latrines which was a majority of the targeted population, 54.1% shared these toilet facilities which was also a majority of the targeted population, 70.27% had their toilet facilities in their own yard. Waste disposal was an issue because the majority of the targeted population in Ntopwa disposed their wastes in Lichenza River, whilst in ATG and Mthandizi, the targeted population used designated waste disposal areas and household yard to dispose their wastes. Handwashing was done in Mthandizi ward using different types of soap. The study used the Joint monitoring programme definitions to define the type of water source, sanitation facilities and hygiene as safely managed, basic, limited and unimproved in a ladder showing that most of the water, sanitation and hygiene services are basic and limited services. The study recommended that there should be more studies based on water and sanitation in peri urban areas with immediate actions like building double pit latrines that save space and encouraging home-based water treatment techniques.

Ntopwa had a highest percentage of people having their water sources not premises, when it came to treating water at home, 62.2% of the targeted population did not treat their water which was the majority of the targeted population, the remaining 37.8% used household water treatment techniques such as boiling, sieving and using water guard. The study revealed that 67.57% of the targeted population in Mthandizi ward used dry pit latrines which was a majority of the targeted population, 54.1% shared these toilet facilities which was also a majority of the targeted population, 70.27% had their toilet facilities in their own yard. Waste disposal was an issue because the majority of the targeted population in Ntopwa disposed their wastes in Lichenza River, whilst in ATG and Mthandizi, the targeted population used designated waste disposal areas and household yard to dispose their wastes. The study used the Joint monitoring programme definitions to define the type of water source, sanitation facilities and hygiene as safely managed, basic, limited and unimproved in a ladder showing that most of the water, sanitation and hygiene services are basic and limited services.

Mthandizi ward is located in Bangwe Township (T. A Machinjili), Blantyre in the southern part of Malawi, specifically in Mthandizi ward which currently has a population of 19,942 according to 2018 Malawi population and housing census report. It is a low-income area which is also a highly populated area. The area has sub-sections in it namely; Ntopwa, ATG, Mthandizi, Chinjinga and railways.

District: Blantyre

Coordinates: -15.6817, 34.92535